Prevalence and Predictors of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Women: A cross Sectional Study in Hetosa District, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia, 2016

Background- Exclusive breastfeeding is a very essential, long lasting and cost effective intervention to reduce the morbidity and mortality of infants. However, the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding in Ethiopia has been expected at 52% which is far less than World Health Organization recommendations. The Ethiopian national HSDP IV also planned to increase in the proportion of exclusively breastfeeding infants under the age of six months to 70% by the end of 2015. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practices and its associated factors in Hetosa District, Arsi zone, Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 384 mothers with infant less than 2 years old were involved in this study between January and June 2016. Trained interviewers collected data from the mothers of the infants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 55.2 %. Mothers who delivered at healthcare facility (OR =2.52; 95% CI: 1.55, 4.06), who had antenatal care (OR=2.01; 95% CI: 1.34, 3.03) and who initiated breastfeeding within the first one hour (OR =3.54; 95% CI: 2.23, 5.58) were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding than their counterparts. Conclusion and recommendation: A large proportion of children are not exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months, although what is recommended in infant and young child feeding guidelines. Maternal factors (age, education, occupation, antenatal care, initiation of breastfeeding, prelacteal and colostrum feeding), information access and delivery place were independent predictors of exclusive breastfeeding. I nutritional counselling, information access, quality of antenatal care service, place of delivery and avoiding prelacteal feeding practices are very crucial to improve exclusive breastfeeding.